Chris Pratt gained a chiseled physique for his role in Moneyball

We know how actors in the entertainment business often go beyond their physical limitations to play characters on screen. As an example, consider Chris Pratt, 44, who stunned both colleagues and fans by dropping an incredible 35 pounds in just six short weeks. Yes, but like the rest of us, he needed a little motivation to get going.

Brad Pitt’s gripping sports movie Moneyball served as inspiration for Pratt as he set out on an arduous and horrifying weight-loss journey that left everyone in awe. The Marvel star realized he needed to alter his way of life before Zero Dark Thirty when he attempted to audition for the $110 million Moneyball. Also, aside from looks, Pitt and his team felt Pratt was a perfect fit for the role (Scott Hatteberg) that the latter was vying for.
Chris Pratt

Moneyball Was A Terrifying Challenge For Chris Pratt’s Weight Loss Journey

In 2009, Chris Pratt was already gaining attention for his portrayal of Andy Dwyer in the sitcom Parks and Recreation. However, when the actor auditioned for the role of Moneyball’s Scott Hatteberg, he was told that he might not be cast because he was “too fat” for the role. He earlier expressed in an interview with Men’s Health:
“I got an audition through straight-up hardcore lobbying. But the response was: ‘Brad Pitt really liked you but you are too fat.’ I was like: ‘All right, I can lose it, I can lose it.”
Chris Pratt in Moneyball
But before he could show off his dramatic acting prowess, the Bride Wars star had to work hard to shed some dramatic pounds. In an interview with Movieline, Pratt discussed the casting process, including the unfavorable news he got following his initial audition and how it completely changed his lifestyle. He recalled:
“My agent called me and said, ‘Chris, they really thought you were good, but they think you’re too fat’. I was like, ‘F*ck, really? That sucks. OK, well, I can lose weight. Did you tell them I could lose weight?’ ‘Yeah, we told them. They haven’t offered it to anyone else.”

And Chris Pratt’ Shed About 35 lbs In Just ‘Six Weeks’ 

Chris Pratt

Chris Pratt, 44, also disclosed that he was so determined to be in Bennett Miller’s Moneyball that he lost 35 pounds in six weeks. The film was based on Michael Lewis’ 2003 nonfiction book Moneyball: The Art of Winning an Unfair Game. He shared with Men’s Health:
“I probably lost about 35lb in six weeks. All running; straight-up road work. I ran five or six miles a day. I ate leafy green salads and protein shakes, that was it. I didn’t know about healthy eating then. I cut out all alcohol. Trim, trim, trim. Finally I sent them a photo and it was, ‘Hey, they want to see you again.’ Yes’.”
Pratt’s perseverance paid off as he was cast in the $110.2 million film, which also starred Philip Seymour Hoffman, Jonah Hill, and Brad Pitt.
Chris Pratt’s ripped body in Guardians of the Galaxy
The chiseled Pratt might have found his ideal body type when he went on to star as Peter Quill/Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy as an interstellar thief. He informed PEOPLE:
“I actually lost weight by eating more food, but eating the right food, eating healthy foods and so when I was done with the movie my body hadn’t been in starvation mode. It wasn’t like I was triggered to just gorge myself and get really fat again.”
Now according to Pratt, who revealed this to PEOPLE, he is certain that at least two of those three characteristics—bulging biceps and toned abs—will not be going away anytime soon:
“It’s something that I think I can maintain because now I don’t spend four hours in the gym each day. I do maybe one hour in the gym maybe four days a week, and that’s it.”
Chris Pratt in Moneyball
The Magnificent Seven, Passengers, The Tomorrow War, and the action-thriller television series The Terminal List were among Pratt’s other notable roles. His next project will be The Electric State, an upcoming sci-fi adventure film directed by Anthony and Joe Russo. The AGBO film will be released by Netflix in 2024.

Watch Moneyball on Amazon Prime Video.